Amusement device



H. ROUENVILLEV l 979,844

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Oct. 5, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EYS Nov. 6,1934.- H. ROUENVILLE AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed on. s, 1953 2 Sheets-SheetINVENTQR l !,e Z I BY WTTORNEY &

Patented Nov. 6, 1934 tries Application October 3,

Denmark 1933, Serial No. 692,007

In Denmark December 1, 1932 Claims.

The present invention relates to amusement devices and embodies morespecifically an improved form of amusement device wherein the force ofgravity is utilized to maintain the device in a normal position. Themovement of the device into positions other than its normal position,and against the force of gravity, constitutes the exercising or amusingact to be performed upon the device in the operation thereof. Moreparticularly, the invention embodies a device which is normallymaintained in an upright position by the force of gravity, the devicebeing so constructed that it will assume such upright position, from anyposition above horizontal to which it has been moved. The movement ofthe device from a position other than upright to its upright position isaccompanied by a degree of rocking until it has reached its position ofrepose, similar in nature to the oscillations of a pendulum in assumingits normal position of repose.

The principle upon which the present invention is based has beenutilized in many devices and, of course, is quite old. In attaining thepresent invention, this principle is embodied in an apparatus havingpreferably a spherical base weighted in such fashion that its center ofgravity is quite low, the spherical base being provided with asuperstructure, such as a cage or other device by means of which one ormore occupants may be received.

With the object, therefore, of providing a device for amusement orexercise wherein the operation thereof involves working against theforce of gravity, the present invention has been designed and thedetails of this invention will be more readily apparent in connectionwith the description of the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 isa view in elevation, partly broken away and in section through the baseof the device, showing a device constructed in accordance with thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a view in section, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

' Figure 3 is a view in section, taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1, andlooking in the direction of the arrows, this view showing the weightedbase of the amusement device.

Figure 4 is a detail view, showing one of the sectors which is adaptedto be placed within the base of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation, showing an amusement device constructedin accordance with 5 the present invention and mounted upon a table,

a base or shell, which is preferably formed of a suitable metal and witha spherical outer surface. A ring 11, flanged at 12, may be securedadjacent the upper and open side of the base 10, this ring serving as amounting upon which the superstructure of the device may be secured.Within the shell or base 10, and at the bottom thereof, a bottom plate13 is secured, preferably by rivets 14. This bottom plate may be formedof castiron or other suitable metal and is preferably as heavy as canbe. Over the bottom plate are positioned lead or other weighted sectors15. These sectors preferably span one-third of a circle and thus areplaced within the shell and three to a layer. The size of the sectors issuch as to cause each layer to fill, substantially, the space within theshell lying within the plane of such layer, the outer or curved edges ofthe sectors preferably contacting with the inner wall of the shell. Inaddition to being placed within the shell in layers, the sectors of eachlayer preferably overlap the sectors of adjacent layers, as indicated insolid and dotted lines in Figure 3, bolts 16 passing through the sectorsand being threaded into the bottom plate 13 to secure the elements inposition. To facilitate the securing and removal of the sectors, T-shaped steel plates 18 are set into the sectors, bolts 16 passingtherethrough to interlock the elements eifectively. Eye bolts may bethreaded into the nuts to facilitate the removal of the sectors. A fioorboard 17 may be placed over the weighted sectors to finish off thestructure in a desired fashion.

Upon the flanged ring 11 a superstructure is secured, in the presentform of the invention this superstructure being a cage forrfiedofupwardly and outwardly diverging stanchions 19, which are secured to abase ring 20. The base ring 20 is secured to the flange 12, and thestanchions support a hand ring 21. A widened guard rail 22 is secured bymeans of curved radial rods 23. Opposite stanchions may be formed withloops 24, which are adapted to receive leather straps 25, which extenddiametrically between such opposite stanchions, thus serving as a guardmember for the device.

The shell 10 may be placed upon a horizontal surface, or it may beplaced upon a table 26, having a concave rolling surface 27 securedthereto at 28. The concave rolling surface should be suspended from thecylindrical sides thereof which are secured at 28 thus maintaining thecentral portion of the concave element free from the table 26. The shell10 may be placed with the bottom thereof contacting with the bottom ofthe concave surface 27, the rolling of the shell upon the surface thusproducing an up-hill roll, as will be readily apparent from Figure 1.The concave surface thus contributes to safety in use of the device aswell as to quietness in operation and durability. An outer guard rail 29may be provided upon the table 26 to limit the extent of oscillation ofthe cage or shell. It will thus be seen that shifting the center ofgravity of the device, as by throwing ones weight away from the verticalaxis thereof, will cause the device to be rocked upon the outerspherical surface of the shell 10. The weighted base of the shellnormally tends to restore the device to a normal position of repose.Movementthereof is thus effected by varying the position of the occupantor occupants of the device. Foot straps 30 may be secured to theflooring 17 to enable an occupant to maintain a desired position.

While the invention has been described with reference to the specificconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limitedsave as defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An amusement device comprising a spherical shell, weighted elementssecured within the shell and adjacent the bottom thereof, stanchionssecured to the shell and extending upwardly therefrom, and a railsecured to the upper ends of the stanchions.

2. An amusement device comprising a spherical shell, weighted elementssecured within the shell and adjacent the bottom thereof, stanchionssecured to the shell and extending upwardly therefrom, a hand railsecured to the upper ends of the stanchions, and a guard rail secured tothe last named rail outwardly thereof.

3. An amusement device comprising a spherical shell, weighted elementssecured within the shell and adjacent the bottom thereof, stanchionssecured to the shell and extending upwardly therefrom, a hand railsecured to the upper ends of the stanchions, a guard rail secured to thelast named rail outwardly thereof, and straps secured between certain ofthe stanchions.

4. An amusement device comprising a weight supporting element, aspherical shell upon which the element is mounted, weighted elementssecured within the shell and adjacent the bottom thereof, and a tablehaving a concave rolling surface upon which the shell is adapted torest.

5. An amusement device comprising a weight supporting element, aspherical shell upon whichthe element is mounted, weighted elementssecured within the shell and adjacent the bottom thereof, and a tablehaving a concave rolling surface upon which the shell is adapted torest, means being provided to suspend the concave table from the sidesthereof whereby the central portion thereof is free from stationaryfoundation elements.

H. ROUENVILLE.

